Hot drink dispenser



Aug. 27, 1935. v. THOMAS 2,012,645 Y HOT DRINK DISPENSER Filed May 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l Z5 mam if Inventor 761 72022 .772 onuzs' By QM /I Home y Aug. 27, 1935. v. THOMAS 2,012,645

HOT DRINK DISPENSER I Filed May 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 27, 1935 v THQMAS 2,012,645

HOT DRINK DISPENSER Filed May 1'7, 1934 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invenlor Z772 022 I72 07 naa,

By 5mm A 1935- v. THOMAS HOT DRINK DISPENSER Filed May 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet Inventor 722 22022 fiamaa;

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flllomey Aug. 27, 1935. v THOMAS 2,012,645

- HOT DRINK DISPENSER Filed May 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inven for Patented Aug. 27, 1935 2,012,645 HOT DRINK DISPENSER Vernon Thomas, Duluth, Minn.' I Application my 17, 1934, Serial No. 726,137

\ 4 Claims.

This invention has reference to liquid dispensers and has as its object the provision of such a dispenser especially designed for'dispensing hot drinks, such as coffee, cocoa and the like in such 5 a manner that a fresh cup of the beverage desired is obtainable at each dispensing operation.

, Further in accordance with the present invention a. dispenser is provided whereby the material and liquid used in mixing the drinks are conveyed in an eflicient manner to a. mixing and discharge chamber, and wherein the feed of such material is automatically controlled.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the dispenser.

Figure 2 is a top plan view. I

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the hopper and associated parts removed.

Figure 4 is an elevational view at a forty-five degree angle to Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the upper and feed screw, together with other parts hereinafter more fully referred to, and taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2. I

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through a casing and inner'and outer cylinder arrangement hereinafter more fully referredto. II I Figure '7 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the switch operating means hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 8 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 1. I I

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an elevational view of theroller equipped end portion of the switch operating rod Figure 11 is an elevational View of the water reservoir with parts broken away and showing the electrical heating device associated with'the reservoir.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the dispenser is mounted on a suitable support or the like suggestedby 7 broken line in Figure 1 and indicated'generally by the reference numeral I. a The dispensing device is indicated generally in Figures 1 and 4 and in the present instance comprises a housing 2 having segmental top and bottom walls 4, 4' con nected by vertical walls 3', 3a which'jwallssare disposed at right angles to one, another.

A mixing and dispensing cylinderassembly 5 is arranged within'the housing 2 and includes an inner cylinder 6 and an outer cylinder l-connected with and spaced from thecylinderi. through suitable spacers 8 arranged at the upper and lower ends'of the cylinders. At said;;end s the ,outer cylinder 7 is provided'with channels, or grooved collars 9 that accommodate gaskets l0 arranged-for wiping engagement with the' inner faces of the walls-4 and. 4' of the housing.

These gaskets ltprovide an efficient joint be- I tween the cylinders and the top and bottom walls. of the housing and at the same time exert suifi-' cient pressure on walls of the housing to provide for friction that prevents too, easy shifting of the cylinder assembly; from one position to another.

The cylinders 6 andul-are imperforatei. and

the inner cylinder 6; at its lower end is provided with asection 6a of reticulated material forming a screen through'which the liquid mixture passes in dispensing from the cylinder assembly.

In Figure 3 is indicated the three positions,- one of which is occupied atone time or the other by the cylinder assembly 5. In this connection it will be noted that the intermediate position is the loadingposition whilethe extreme right position is the flushingposition and the extreme left position is the dispensing position. When in the extreme left or dispensing position thespace H betweenthe cylinders 6. and! is directly over a series of segmental discharge slots l2 provided irrthe bottom 4 of the housing 2 sothat thebeverage passing from the cylinder 6 through the screen 6a into the space II will discharge from the spacethroughthe openings 12- into the-cup or o ther suitable receptacle I; that is held beneath the openings I2 in a manner suggested in Figure 1. v I r I When the cylinder assembly- 5 is in the flushing position the cylinders are-located, over a 1 series of slots or openings 13 so that the flushing water or the like passing through the .cylinders -Band 1 will drain through he slots l3:i nto any suitable receptacle to catch the flushing water. r

The coffeejcocoa, or other flavoring material is accommodated within a supply hopper I5, the same being providedwith a filling neck Hi. The hopper I5 is also provided with a tubular discharge neck I! that at its lower end is adapted I s of the feeder I 9. The segm'entsZB lie'one'above" the other and through the medium ofrtherset- To insure a positive feed of the material from the hopper 5 through the neck I! there is provided a screw conveyor I9 provided on one end of a shaft 20 journalled in suitable bearings 2| provided therefor in the hopper I5. On the upper end of the shaft 20 is afriction wheel 22.

For driving the shaft 20 there ,is provided an electric motor 23 suitably mounted on the top of is a pair of friction segments 28 that-have fric tional engagement with the frictiorr wheel" 22 transmitting movement of the shaft 26 to the shaft screws 21 may be set so as to provide for a com-, plete circle or any fractional part thereof as may found desirable togovern the amount of the dry'ingredients to be fed from the hopper l5 to the cylinder assembly 5.

The rod32 ope'rates through a suitable opening in ureto 'wau of the housing: 3} and' h'as 'a' portion extending upwardly through theh'opper I5 t'o'terini'nate slightly above the top-of the hopper and in the path of V acam lug 34Fprovide'd on the under side of thelowermos'tone of the friction segments 28. At its lowest end the rod 32 is provided with a swinging section'3 2u1that is'pivoted to the rod '3'2' by a rule joint 35- in such": a" manner as'to permit the section 32a to swing laterally of the rod M itia-singledirectionindicatedinFigure 7. The section-'- 32a isprovided with a-roller 36 that i's'in wiping engagement with a-cam surface 3! 'proamass; i l 'I- he-aforem'entioned arms-Share secured to the outer cylinder 1" in any-suitablem'anner'preferably by being integral therewith, ana at their free ends the arms-38 are engagedwith a'-vertica1 pivot rod" 33 that extends vertically within the housing-3 in the'corn'er or angle between the walls 3 Qnd 3d. V V r V Q Fion'ithe above it will beapparent 't'hat when the" cylinder assembly 5 is inlbadihg position the wheel 35 will beat-the upper end-of the cam surface 31 Thus when-the lowermost-friction segment 28 moves in position so as toiengag'e the am lug fl thereonvvith the upper end of the rod 32 the latter will influer'ice t'he rod '3 2l just encu'ghtjt' cause the section32h-ofthebar to' swing to th dottedline position and movsme roller 36'" ut of engagement with'the'cam surface 31 assug'gestedin Figure 71 'Iln'sdis'placement'of the sec'tmn 32a of the -Ifod wi11 permit the rod: 32- to move downwardly th'us actuating -the'flever 29 of the switch to open the switch 29 and thusinterrupt' -the circuit tothemotor-23; The interrupti'on ofthe circuit tothe motor-2 3 will of course result'in an interruption of drivefro'm' the motor to the feed screw shaft ZDYtHu's immediately stoppingfurther feed of the materialfroni the hop pefil5 {to the cylinder assembly-'5'.

Obviouslywhemthecylinder assembly is moved I from the flushing posi-tion to tl'ie'interinediate or loading positions'tem38 will engage throller on the uppermost arm-3fof a-pair of such 36 causing the bar 32 to move upwardly and thus trip the switch 29 for closing the switch and completing the circuit to the motor 23 to thereby set the feed screw IS in operation for feeding the material from the hopper l 5 to the inner cylinder 6 of the cylinder assembly 5.

When the loading of the cylinder assembly 6 V with the material from the hopper l5 has been completed in the manner just described the cylinder assembly 5::is shifted fromithe loading position shown in Figure 3 to.:the dispensing position shown in said figure. When in this last named position the space H between the cylinders 6 and I will be directly over the discharge apertures -I2whi1ethe.upper end of the cylinder 6 will be in line with the hot water inlet 48 provided in the top wall'4 of the housing 3. When in this position hotwater from the storage chamber 4| willbe supplied to the cylinder assembly through the conduit connection 42 between the reservoir ihand'theinlet 40L In the connection 42 is'arranged a control valve 43 having an operating stem or plunger extending through an opening in- 1 thewa ll'3 of the housing 2; Thevalve 43 is opened upon movement of the cylinder assembly 5 into the dispensing position through the medium of a bumper'lug 45 provided on one side of the cylinderT' and movable into engagement with the stern 44 of the valve to move the stem inwardly to open the valve upon movement of the cylinder assembly into the aforementioned dispensing position. Upon opening of the valve 43 the hot water, as before mentioned Will flow from the reservoir 4| through the conduit 42 and the inlet iwinto the inner cylinder 6. Here the hot Water willmix with the granular material, such as the cofiee', cocoa or the like, and flavored thereby will pass through the screen 6a to discharge through the ports l2 and into the cup or other suitable vessel h eld'beneath the openings 12.

the cylinder 6 may be washed therefrom directly throughthe portions of the slots i3 that will ex .te'n'd across the open bottom of the cylinder 5.

Thus a thorough flushing of the cylinder assembly will-beaccomplished'. V

I For controlling the supply of the flushing water the vfiushingconduit 41 is provided with a valve 48 that has an operating plunger or stem'49 extending through an opening in the wall 312' of the housing and adapted to be engaged by a bumper lug'50 also carried by the cylinder 6 at the side thereof opposite to the lug 45, and arranged to engage the plunger 49 to move the same inwardly upon the positioning of the assembly 5 in-the flushing position.

Forpositioning the cylinder assembly in any oneofthe several positions mentioned there is provided a suitable operating handle 51 that has a forked inner end pivoted "to the outer cylinder 1 as at 52 The handle 5| operates inwa slot provided in 1 a plate 53" extending across the open side of thehousing 2 and secured at its ends to the walls 3, 3a of the housing. Intermediate the ends of the slot the plate 53 is provided with a notch 54 to accommodate the handle when the cylinder assembly is in the loading or intermediate position.

Water is supplied to the reservoir 4| from any suitable source through the medium of a conduit 5|) connected with the reservoir 4| and provided with a check valve 5|.

To maintain an even temperature for the water within the reservoir 4| there is suitably mounted within the reservoir and properly encased, an electrical heating unit 52 that is arranged in circuit with a suitable control switch 53 mounted in any suitable manner on the top of the reservoir 3|. The switch 53 is controlled by a suitable thermostat 54, and whenthe temperature of the water rises above a predetermined amount the thermostat 54 will operate to open the switch 53 and thus interrupt the circuit to the heater 52. Upon a fall of the temperature the thermostat 54 will operate to permit a closing of the switch 53 to complete the circuit to the heater 52. d

It is thought that from the above a clear understanding of the operation, construction and purpose of the invention will be had.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A hot drink mixer and dispenser including a housing having a. mixing and dispensing device arranged therein and movable in the arc, of a circle into an intermediate or loading position, a mixing and dispensing position at one end of the arc, and a flushing position at the opposite end of the are; a hopper for beverage material,

a motor driven variable screw feed device con-,

necting the hopper with the housing for feeding a predetermined quantity of the material to the device, and including a switch for the motor, means connected with the switch for tripping the latter and operated by the placing of the device in loading position to close the circuit to the motor and by the driving means for the feed device to open the motor circuit when a predetermined quantity of the material has been fed thereby to the mixing and dispensing device.

2. A hot drink mixer and dispenser including a housing having a mixing and dispensing device arranged therein and movable in the arc of a circle into an intermediate or loading position, a mixing and dispensing position at one end of the are, and a flushing position at the opposite end of the arc; a'hopper for beverage material, a motor driven variable screw feed device connecting the hopper with the housing for feeding a predetermined quantity of the material to the device, and including a switch for the motor,

means connectedrwith the switch for tripping the latter and operated by the placing of the device in loading position to close the circuit to the mothe mixing and dispensing device, and means operated by the placing of the mixing device in' mixing and'dispensing position for feeding a predetermined volume of liquid to and through the device and the material therein for mixing and discharging a predetermined amount of beverage.

3. A hot drink mixer and'dispenser including a housing having a mixing and dispensing device arranged therein and movable in the arc of a. circle into an intermediate or loading position, a mixing and dispensing position at one end of the arc, and a flushing position at the opposite end of the arc; a hopper for beverage material, a motor driven variable screw feed device connecting the hopper with the housing for feeding a predetermined quantity of the material to the device, and including a switch for the motor, means connected with the switch for tripping the latter and operated by the placing of the device in loading position to close the circuit to the motor and by the driving means for the feed device to open the motor circuit when a predetermined quantity of the material has been fed thereby to the mixing and dispensing device, and means operated by the placing of the mixing device in mixing and dispensing position for feeding a predetermined volume of liquid to and through the device and the material therein for mixing and discharging a predetermined amount of beverage, and means operated by the placing of the mixing device in flushing position to force under pressure water through the device for flushing the same.

4. A hot drink mixer and dispenser includirig a housing having a mixing and dispensing device arranged therein and movable in the arc of a circle, a fixed pivot rod arranged within the housing, arms extending from the mixing. and dispensing device and engaged with the pivot rod, whereby the mixing arid dispensing device is constrained to move in the housing in the arc of a circle concentric to the'pivot rod, and into an intermediate or leading position, a mixing and dispensing position at one end of the 'path of movement of the device, and a flushing position at the opposite end of the path of movement, a hopper for beverage material, a screw feed for conveying beverage material to the housing for with the switch for tripping it, cam 'means on one of said arms for engaging said vertically shiitable member to cause the same to move upwardly to close the switch upon movement of the mixing and dispensing device to a loading I position, and cam means controlled by the friction drive means and engageable with the upper end of said vertically shiftable member to'cause the'same to move downwardly to open the switch when a predetermined quantity of the beverage material has been fed to the mixing and dispensing device.

c VERNON THOMAS. 

